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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Arumbagi

From Enga Ooru Kavalkaran · 1998

Lyricist
Na. Kamarasan
Singers
Deepan Chakravarthy, P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Enga Ooru Kavalkaran1998

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Arumbaagi mottaagi poovaagiBecoming a bud, becoming a blossom, becoming a flower,
Poo pola ponnana poovaayiGolden Poovaayi, who is as tender as a flower!
Arumbaagi mottaagi poovaagiBecoming a bud, becoming a blossom, becoming a flower,
Poo pola ponnana poovaayiGolden Poovaayi, who is as tender as a flower!
Thodutha maala yeduthu vaarenI am bringing the garland that was woven,
Kazhutha kaattu kairanda serthuShow your neck, joining both your hands,
Male
Arumbaagi mottaagi poovaagiBecoming a bud, becoming a blossom, becoming a flower,
Poo pola ponnana poovaayiGolden Poovaayi, who is as tender as a flower!
Arumbaagi mottaagi poovaagiBecoming a bud, becoming a blossom, becoming a flower,
Poo pola ponnana poovaayiGolden Poovaayi, who is as tender as a flower!
Female
Jaathagatha paarthathillaI have not checked any horoscopes,
Sadhaganthan velai ellaamAll those things are the job of a fortune teller,
Ver ethaiyum kettathillaI have not asked for anything else,
Pottuvidu maalai ellaamJust put on all the garlands,
Male
: Manakkum sandhanamFragrant sandalwood,
Poosattuma…aa…aaa…Shall I apply it on you?
Inikkum sangathi pesattumaShall I speak of sweet, pleasant things?
Female
Yedhukkum engappanaBefore doing anything, to my father,
Kekkattuma…aa…aa..Should I go and ask permission?
Appuram ungitta pesattumaAnd then come speak to you after that?
Male
Pon aavarampoo en kaathoramaLike a golden Tanner's Cassia flower near my ear,
Swarampaadum inneram ponneram thaanThis moment singing musical notes is truly a golden time!
Male
Arumbaagi mottaagi poovaagiBecoming a bud, becoming a blossom, becoming a flower,
Poo pola ponnana poovaayiGolden Poovaayi, who is as tender as a flower!
Male
Paaivirichu naan paduthaWhen I lie down spreading out a mat,
Paal yeduthu vaadipullaBring milk and come over, my girl!
Palakkadhaiya pesipputtaHaving talked about old nostalgic tales,
Pasichirukkum nenjukkullaInside the heart that has been hungry,
Female
Pasikku panthiyaFor this emotional hunger, a feast...
Podattuma…aa…aaa..Shall I serve a grand feast?
Rasichu unkitta koodattumaShall I unite with you with complete relish?
Male
Thavichu nithamumYearning every single day,
Ketkattuma…aa…aa…Shall I keep asking you?
Pudichu kaiyila serkattumaShall I hold your hands and join with you?
Female
En machanukkuTo my dear beloved man,
Ada ennachuthuOh, what has happened to him?
Athu poovaayi pinnaalae pithaanathuHe has gone completely crazy after Poovaayi!
Female
Arumbaagi mottaagi poovaagiBecoming a bud, becoming a blossom, becoming a flower,
Male :Poo pola ponnana poovaayiMale: Golden Poovaayi, who is as tender as a flower!
Female :Arumbaagi mottaagi poovaagiFemale: Becoming a bud, becoming a blossom, becoming a flower,
Male :Poo pola ponnana poovaayiMale: Golden Poovaayi, who is as tender as a flower!
Female
: Thodutha maala yeduthu vaarenBringing the garland that was woven,
Male :Kazhutha kaattu kairanda serthuMale: Show your neck, joining both your hands,
Female
Arumbaagi mottaagi poovaagiBecoming a bud, becoming a blossom, becoming a flower,
Male :Poo pola ponnana poovaayiMale: Golden Poovaayi, who is as tender as a flower!
Female :Arumbaagi mottaagi poovaagiFemale: Becoming a bud, becoming a blossom, becoming a flower,
Male :Poo pola ponnana poovaayiMale: Golden Poovaayi, who is as tender as a flower!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic Tamil folk duet expresses romantic intimacy, playful courtship, and the joyous progression of love toward marriage. The lyrics chart love's organic growth—metaphorically comparing it to the natural lifecycle of a plant blooming from a small bud ('arumbu') to a tender blossom ('mottu') and finally a full flower ('poo'). The male protagonist expresses his deep affection for his lady 'Poovaayi', disregarding traditional horoscope matchings in favor of genuine heartfelt love, while the female lover responds playfully, teasingly asking whether she should consult her father before yielding to his affections. In the second half, the song moves toward cozy domestic romance, using rustic imagery like serving warm milk on a mat and feeding an eager, longing heart like a lavish feast. The lyricist Na. Kamarasan weaves evocative rural terminology and tender endearments, capturing the sweet back-and-forth chatter between two lovers preparing to spend their lives together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

“Poo pola ponnana poovaayi”

Compares the beloved Poovaayi's gentleness and preciousness directly to a flower using the comparative particle 'pola'.

Gradation / Climax (Adukku Thodar)

“Arumbaagi mottaagi poovaagi”

Uses sequential natural stages of flowering ('arumbu' -> 'mottu' -> 'poo') to depict the gradual deepening of love and maturity.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Pasikku panthiya / Podattuma”

Metaphorically compares emotional and physical romantic yearning ('pasichirukkum nenju') to physical hunger needing a feast ('panthi').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Paaivirichu naan padutha / Paal yeduthu vaadipulla”

Repetition of the initial 'P' sound ('Paaivirichu', 'Paal', 'Palakkadhaiya', 'Pasichirukkum') creates musical cadence across lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the movie 'Enga Ooru Kavalkaran' was released in 1988, its soundtrack composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja remains one of the defining rural folk albums of 1980s Tamil cinema. Sung by Deepan Chakravarthy and P. Susheela, this track showcases lyricist Na. Kamarasan's flair for blending modern poetic sensibility with rich Tamil rural folklore imagery.

Keep listening

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